Articles
Global Logistics
Global Logistics—June 2011
High-speed Rail Has German Upside While the United States continues debating the pros and cons of investing billions of dollars in high-speed rail infrastructure, developing countries with nebulous transportation capabilities are fast-tracking light-rail projects. As a result, German manufacturing and transportation stand to gain the most. Deutsche Bahn has negotiated with Siemens AG to procure […]
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Global Logistics—May 2011
China Comes Clean China may be the most polluting country in the world, but it’s putting some of that smoke and carbon output to good use by manufacturing renewable energy equipment. The country is producing wind turbines and solar panels at a world-record pace, according to Who’s Winning the Clean Energy Race 2010, a new […]
Read MoreTrends—April 2011
Japan Crisis Creates SC Aftershocks The devastation and tragedy unleashed on Japan by a trio of domino-like forces—an earthquake, then a tsunami, and finally a nuclear meltdown—is now beginning to topple global supply chains. The immediate effect on U.S. companies with operations in Japan was muted, according to sources Inbound Logistics spoke with soon after […]
Read MoreGlobal Logistics—April 2011
The Swoosh Swoops in on China As a sign of China’s booming consumerism, Nike recently debuted its largest Asian logistics center in Jiangsu province. The U.S. sportswear and equipment maker is preparing for rapid growth in its second-biggest global market. The 2.2-million-square-foot logistics center in the city of Taicang is the company’s first mega facility […]
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Global Logistics—March 2011
A New Suez Crisis? The 2011 revolution in Egypt and eventual overthrow of President Hosni Mubarek’s regime reminded global shippers how quickly political undercurrents can gnarl supply chains. Rumors persist about a closure at the Suez Canal, extended delays at nearby ports, and a shortage of ocean capacity between Asia and Europe as a consequence. […]
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Asia: Manufacturing Dynamo or Consumer Powerhouse?
Asia today is not just about manufacturing; it’s also emerging as a consumer powerhouse. To seize the opportunity, manufacturers and retailers alike are rewiring their global supply chain strategies.
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Global Logistics—February 2011
Largest Airlines Target Asia, Latin America The world’s five largest airlines now hail from Asia and Latin America, reflecting industry’s shift away from U.S. and European markets to higher-growth countries, according to a recent report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The data suggests that airline expansion for both freighter and passenger activity will […]
Read MoreSupply Chain Gain: Global Growth
Contingency suppliers, sourcing differentiation, special incentives, and a host of other strategies generate improvements in supply chains that reach around the world.
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Global Logistics—January 2011
Russia and China: Eurasia’s Odd Couple For two countries that geographically touch and have historically close trade ties, Russia and China are worlds apart in terms of economic vitality. While Russia idly pumps oil for export, leaving its economy vulnerable to global commodity price fluctuations, China is fastidious to a fault, protecting its own economic […]
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Navigating Global Supply Chain Risks
Risk management is an essential ingredient in global logistics planning. Unexpected events such as natural disasters, political unrest, regulatory constraints, and product recalls can disrupt the supply chain and, in turn, negatively impact sales, profit, and a company’s reputation in the market. Many companies, however, are still in reactive mode when it comes to adapting […]
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